초록 ▼

Generally disclosed and claimed is an non-belt driven motor vehicle cooling fan having an interruptible driving force such as electrical or hydraulic driving force. More specifically disclosed is a vehicle cooling fan having an driving force interrupted when the vehicle enters water that may contact

Generally disclosed and claimed is an non-belt driven motor vehicle cooling fan having an interruptible driving force such as electrical or hydraulic driving force. More specifically disclosed is a vehicle cooling fan having an driving force interrupted when the vehicle enters water that may contact the fan.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A motor vehicle having a powered fan enhanced cooling system comprising: a chassis, an engine supported by the chassis, and a fan operably connected to an interruptible driving force, the interruptible driving force providing power to the fan when a fluid external to th

The invention claimed is: 1. A motor vehicle having a powered fan enhanced cooling system comprising: a chassis, an engine supported by the chassis, and a fan operably connected to an interruptible driving force, the interruptible driving force providing power to the fan when a fluid external to the vehicle is at a first level relative to the vehicle, the interruptible driving force interrupting power to the fan when the fluid is at a second level relative to the vehicle, the second level located beneath the fan, whereby the interruptible driving force interrupts power to the fan before the fan contacts the fluid. 2. The motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the interruptible driving force is interrupted by an operator accessible switch. 3. The motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the interruption of the driving force is initiated by a water-level sensor in communication with a controller; the controller is programmed to direct an interruption of the interruptible driving force in response to a signal of the presence of water from the water-level sensor. 4. The motor vehicle of claim 3, wherein the water-level sensor is a conductivity sensor. 5. The motor vehicle of claim 3, wherein the water-level sensor is a pressure sensor. 6. The motor vehicle of claim 3, wherein the water-level sensor is float sensor. 7. The motor vehicle of claim 3, wherein at least two sensors are provided. 8. The motor vehicle of claim 7, wherein the controller compares signals from the at least two sensors to determine an angle of the vehicle relative to the horizon. 9. The motor vehicle of claim 8 further including an inclinometer in communication with the controller to determine the angle of the vehicle relative to the horizon. 10. The motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the driving force is pressurized hydraulic fluid and the interruption is provided by a diverter valve. 11. The motor vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle electrical system and a switch, wherein the power to the fan is provided by the vehicle electrical system and the interruption is provided by the switch. 12. A motor vehicle having a hydraulically driven fan cooling system comprising: a hydraulic fluid reservoir operably connected to a hydraulic fluid pump, the hydraulic fluid pump providing pressurized hydraulic fluid; a fan operably connected to the hydraulic pump to receive pressurized hydraulic fluid; a diverter valve in series between the hydraulic pump and the fan; a controller operably in communication with the diverter valve; and a water-level sensor in communication with the controller, the water-level sensor located beneath the fan, wherein the diverter valve interrupts the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the fan in response to a signal from the water-level sensor indicating the presence of fluid external to the vehicle before the fluid contacts the fan. 13. The motor vehicle of claim 12 further comprising an operator accessible switch operably connected to the diverter valve. 14. The vehicle of claim 12 further including at least two additional sensors, wherein the controller compares signals from the sensors to determine an angle of the vehicle relative to the horizontal and side-to-side orientation data of the vehicle. 15. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the sensor is a conductivity-type sensor. 16. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the sensor is a pressure-type sensor. 17. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the sensor is a float-type sensor. 18. The vehicle of claim 14 further including an inclinometer in communication with the controller to determine the angle of the vehicle relative to the horizon. 19. The vehicle of claim 14 further including an inclinometer in communication with the controller to determine the side-to-side orientation data of the vehicle. 20. A damage protection system for use with a vehicle having a fan driven by a driving force of the vehicle, the system comprising: a diverter in series between the fan and the driving force, a controller in operable communication with the diverter, the controller configured to command the diverter to operably separate the fan from the driving force, a first water-level sensor supported by the vehicle at a location forward of the fan, the first water-level sensor in operable communication with the controller, the first sensor being configured to detect water external to the vehicle and forward of the fan, the sensor being configured to signal to the controller the presence of the water, a second water-level sensor supported by the vehicle at a location behind the fan, the second water-level sensor in operable communication with the controller, the second sensor being configured to detect water external to the vehicle and behind the fan, the sensor being configured to signal to the controller the presence of the water, wherein the controller is configured to analyze the signal from the first sensor and the signal from the second sensor to determine whether the water-level threatens damage to the fan, wherein if the water-level threatens damage to the fan, the controller commands the diverter to operably separate the fan from the driving force. 21. The system of claim 20 wherein the first and second water-level sensors are selected from the group consisting of a conductivity-type sensor, a pressure-type sensor, and a float-type sensor. 22. The system of claim 20 wherein the driving force is pressurized hydraulic fluid. 23. The motor vehicle of claim 1, further including: a controller; a first water-level sensor supported by the vehicle at a location forward of the fan, the first water-level sensor in operable communication with the controller, the first sensor being configured to detect water external to the vehicle and forward of the fan, the sensor being configured to signal to the controller the presence of the water, a second water-level sensor supported by the vehicle at a location behind the fan, the second water-level sensor in operable communication with the controller, the second sensor being configured to detect water external to the vehicle and behind the fan, the sensor being configured to signal to the controller the presence of the water, wherein the controller is programmed to direct an interruption of the interruptible driving force in response to a signal of the presence of water from at least one of the first and the second water-level sensors. 24. The motor vehicle of claim 1, further including a water-level sensor supported by the vehicle at a location rearward of the engine with the fan located forward of the engine. 25. The motor vehicle of claim 12 further comprising another water-level sensor in communication with the controller and located above the water-level sensor. 26. The system of claim 20 wherein the first sensor detects water external to the vehicle before the second sensor when a rear end of the vehicle is elevated relative to a front end of the vehicle. 27. The system of claim 20 wherein the second sensor detects water external to the vehicle before the first sensor when a front end of the vehicle is elevated relative to a rear end of the vehicle.